Korea-U.S. FTA

Why is Korea Getting Less Foreign Investment?

Net foreign investment in Korea has dropped from $10 billion in 2004 to -$670 million in the first quarter of 2008.  Brendan Carr explains why: Foreign Investment in Korea Continues to Plummet (Brendan Carr, Korea Law Blog, May 6).

Will the FTA Undercut Korean Anti-smoking Efforts?

Korea has had a serious smoking problem for a long time. 

The advocacy Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH) is concerned that the reduction in tariffs will reduce the domestic price and increase consumption, and that investor-protection measures in the agreement will hobble Korean efforts to reduce smoking: Korean Trade Agreement: Threat To Public Health (May 30, 2007). 

Ramstad on Korea's Mixed Signals on Foreign Investment

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Ramstad reports today on Korean ambivalence toward foreign direct investment: Korea's Mixed Signals May Keep Foreign Investors From Diving In (July 26).

"Issues and Assessment of the KORUS FTA Investment Chapter"

This is a Korean language paper by Seong-Bong Lee, Kwan-Ho Kim, Junkyu Lee, and Haw-Jung Hyun, that was distributed by the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) late last year. 

Access to the report, and a short English summary are here: Issues and Assessment of the KORUS FTA Investment Chapter (KIEP, December 29, 2006).  In summary:

Moody's considers upgrading S. Korea

Partly because of the Korea-U.S. FTA: Moody's places South Korea's credit rating on review for possible upgrade (Reuters, July 3):